Rip Van Winkle

Sad that even his dog was different, Rip wandered back into the village. There the people gathered around Rip, still staring and pointing at him. They asked who he was, worrying that he was crazy or even dangerous. This scared poor Rip Van Winkle.

Just then a man with an odd, tall hat quieted the crowd. "People of the village, leave this poor fellow alone," the man said. Then he turned to Rip and asked Rip who he was, and why he had come to the village.

"I've lived in this village my whole life," Rip replied.

"Then name the people who live here," the man said.

"Well, there is Nicholas Vedder. There is also Brom Dutcher," Rip told the people of the crowd.

"Nicholas Vedder has been gone for years," said one.

"Brom Dutcher went off to war," said another.

Rip's heart sank when he heard this. All of the changes in his home and his friends made him sad.